Multiple power transmission drive



May '14, 1940. R. L. BECKMAN MULTIPLE POWER TRANSMISSION DRIVE Filed March 14, 1958 rlfltrillllflllll IIVV EN TOR Ronsm' L. BELKMAN ATTORNEY Patented May 1 4, 1546 2,200,686 MULTIPLE POWER TRANSMISSION nmvn Robert Lawrencel Beckman, Eugenel Oreg; Application March 14, 1938, Serial No. 195,906 11 Claims. (01485 -40) i This invention relates to power and transmissien drives and is particularly adapted to be used in connection with toy airplanes and the like; i The primary object of my invention is to drive T a shaft by two or more power or motive means, first by one separately and then from the other power means separately, when one power means ling means.

{leaves off the other comes into effect.

Inpresent day construction, especially model airplanes and boats, it is the custom touse rub ber bands and the like for driving the propel- In some cases they use a multiple of bands but they all run down simultaneously and it is the object of my invention to use a number of; motors, such as rubber bands, first transjferringthe energy from one band or motor into the propelling means or driven shaft for a predetermined amount of time, then stopping this motor after which another motor or rubber band will come into action for a period of time driving the propelling means or driven shaft, thereafterythe previous motor or rubber band will again come into play driving the propelling means, but in any event there is just one of the motors working at any one time. T

Fromthe above description it will be readily funderstood that the duration of power output T can be greatly extended.

free wheeling of the 'Another object of this invention is to provide, especially in model airplanes and boats, propeller after the motive powerihas run down. T. T A further objectof my invention is to lock the propeller and motive means by simply reversing the direction of the propeller byhand.

11 parent in the drawing, specification andclaims to T T T Figure l is a side View of the motor mechanism These and other incidental objects will be apfollow. T T Referring to the drawing:

, T [embodying my invention as related to toy air- I planes. i i Figure 2 is a perspective view of my new and improved power transmission. Figure 3 is a sectional view of my transmission, looking towards the driving shafts.

Figure 4 is the same view as Figure 3, with the driving shafts removed.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side view of my transmission illustrating the free wheeling prin- T ciple.

T .In the drawing:

l is a main frame or body portion of my transmission having a driven shaft 2 mounted withlivering power thereto.

in a suitable bearing bracket 3. This shaft may have a propeller 4 mounted thereon at its outer T end, on its opposite end is a crank 5. Thiscrank is revolved by the driving shafts t and I; only one of these shafts drive at any one time. T 5 Referring to Figure 1, the shaft 6 is in position for driving the shaft 2. The crank arm 8 is shown engaged with the crank arm 5 of the driven shaft; A ball like bearing 9 is shown seated in the socket bearing ID of the main frame I, 10

holding the shaft 6 in line with the driven shaft 2.

A twisted band ll drives theshaft 6, although any suitable driving means maybe used. The

driving shaft 1 is shown in a position off to one side, as in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Its crank I 2 is shown bearing against the wall I 3 of the main frame, while its ball like bearing M is held in 'the position shown by the bearing 9 of the operating shaft 6. to revolve the shaft 1 but cannot do so due to the fact that the crank I2 is prevented from turning. When the rubber band H has driven the shaft 6 and drive shaft 2 for a period of time The rubber band ltis tending it expends aportion of its power, after which the rubber band I 5, being wound tighter and T being more powerful than the band ll, will exert sufiicient turning power to cause the crank 12 to shift the bearing 14 towards the bearing 9, crowding the bearing 9 out of the socket ill and shifting the shaft 6 across the slot it towards .30 the wall I! placing it in the same relative position as shaft 1 appears in the drawing, but on the opposite side, the crank 8 will then rest againstthe wall 16 preventing theshaft G from turning, simultaneously therewith the bearing ball M of shaft Ttakes the former position of the bearing 9 and the shaft 6 within the socket l6 and immediately the shaft 1 and its crank l2 engage'the crank 5 of the driven shaft 2, de-

T 40 When the rubber band 115 becomes weakened below the driving band u, the bearing ball 9 will force the ball I4 out of the socket it, by the action of the crank 8 pressing against the wall I? and forcing the same to take its former ,45

position," as shownin Figures 1, 2 and 3. This action goes on until both power means and i5 have been completely unwound, at which time theymn assume a positionas shown in Fig-- ure 5 forcingthe cranks 8 and I2 out of engage- 5 ment with the crank 5 which will allow the propeller 4 to revolve freely while the model airplane is making a landing. This is a very desirable condition. T

I do not wish to be limited to this particular form of embodiment, as other forms may be used, still coming within the scope of the claims to follow.

What is claimed to be new is:

1. A power drive for toys of the type including a driven element, said power drive including substantially duplicate driving elements each independently tensioned for operation and either capable of actuating the driven element, and means whereby the driving elements may automatically displace each other in repeated succession in driving cooperation with the driven element as the operating tension of the active driving element falls below the operating tension of the inactive driving element.

' 2. A power drive for toys of the type including a driven element, said power drive including substantially duplicate driving elements each of which may operate the driven element, means for tensioning each of the driving elements independently, and means whereby the active driving element may be automatically and repeatedly displaced by the inactive driving elementv when the'operating tension of the active driving element falls below the operating tension of the inactive driving element, and means for holding the inactive driving element against release of its ten on While n t ve- 3. A power drive for toys of thetype includeing a driven element, said drive including duplicate driving elements. independently tensioned for driving function, and means whereby the respective driving elements may be automatically positioned in repeated Successionfor driving cooperation of the driven element in accordance with the relative operating tension of said driving elements.

4. In combination with a toy including a propeller, a driven crank carried by the, propeller, duplicate driving cranks mounted adjacent the driven crank, means whereby either of the driving cranks may occupy a position to cooperate with the driven crank for driving cooperation, and independent tensioning means for each of the driving cranks, said driving cranks being mounted for movement to permit the then active driving crank to be repeatedly displaced by the then inactive driving crank as the operating tension of the former falls below that of the latter.

5. A toy including a propeller, a d ivencrank therefor, a casing in which the driven crank is arranged, driving cranks mounted in the casing either of which may cooperate with the driven crank for operating the propeller, independent tensioning means for each driving crank for operating said crank, said casing being formed with a slot in which the driving cranks are mounted for relative movement, the slots'permit- .ting the active driving crank to be displaced by the inactive driving crank as the tension of the active driving crank falls below that of the inactive driving vcrank, the displacing movement of .the inactive driving crank serving to place such crank in driving cooperation with the driven crank.

6. A toy including a propeller, a driven crank carried by the propeller, a housing enclosing the driven crank, driving cranks arranged in the housing, a ru er band or hand or e ch driving crank to be tensioned by twisting, the housing being formed to permit lateral movement of the driving cranks with the active driving crank positioned in line with the driven crank and cooperating therewith for driving purposes and the inactive driving crank arranged adjacent one wall of the housing and prevented from movement under, its tensioning means by a wall of the housing; the inactive driving crank incident to its tension displacing the active driving crank through lateral movement whenthe tension of the active driving crank falls below that of the inactive driving crank.

'7. A construction as defined in claim 6, wherein the automatic displacement of the active driving crank by the inactive driving crank continues automatically in successive displacements as the tension of the active driving crank falls below that of the inactive driving crank.

8. A constructionas defined in claim 6, Wherein the active driving crank inclndes spherical el me ts arran ed, t i th h usin nd e ein the housing is centrally formed with a depression to position the active driving crank while in active driving connection with the driven c ank- 9. A toy including a propeller, a driven crank conne ted with th p o ler, a cas n within which the driven crank is mounted, duplicate r vin crank ou ed wi h e cas n a the driven crank, the ball of the active driving crank holding the ball of the inactive driving crank laterally of the depression to prevent movementof the inactive driving crank by a wall of the casing, the tension of the driving means of the inactive driving crank tending to move the inactive driving crank to laterally 'displace the active driving crank when the tension of the operating means of such active driving crank falls below that of the inactive driving c ank.

10. A construction as defined in claim 9, wherein the driving cranks are alternately active and inactive in automatic succession incident to the variation in the tension of their operating means until the power of such operating means of both driving cranks is exhausted. e 11. An energy transmitter having a driven element, a plurality of driving elements, thetotal operating period of the driven element being the ,sl mmation of each and every driving element operating period or periods, the driving elements repeatedly displacing one another in driving cooperation with the driven element to maintain operation until all of the stored driving energy t drive e emen ROBERT WRENCE o each d ivi g eme has e t red to 

